ABC has renewed "Lost" through 2009-10 but declared that's the end of it. So the guys have 48 episodes to explain everything. Fortunately for the writers -- and unfortunately for us -- those 48 episodes are spread across three seasons. So they have more time to figure out what they're talking about, and we have to wait longer for resolution.

The formal announcement is after the jump.

Starting with the 2007-08 season, ABC will begin airing the 48 remaining original episodes of the hit drama “Lost,” it was announced today by Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment. The episodes will air uninterrupted over three seasons (16 episodes each season), with the series concluding in 2009-10 with a highly anticipated and shocking finale.

“In considering the powerful storytelling of ‘Lost,’ we felt this was the only way to give it a proper creative conclusion,” said McPherson. “I always said that we would allow the series to grow and give viewers the most compelling hour possible. And, due to the unique nature of the series, we knew it would require an end date to keep the integrity and strength of the show consistent throughout, and to give the audience the payoff they deserve. ”

“Additionally,” said McPherson, “having Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse signed on to complete the journey of this show was critical to me and the network. Damon and Carlton have tremendous talent, and we’re thrilled that they’ll be with the show throughout its run.”

“This is a bold and unprecedented move for ABC,” said Lindelof and Cuse, executive producers. “The show would not be what it is without the vision and support we’ve received from Steve McPherson, Mark Pedowitz and everyone at ABC and ABC TV Studios. We always envisioned ‘Lost’ as a show with a beginning, middle and end. By officially announcing exactly when that ending will be, the audience will now have the security of knowing that the story will play out as we’ve intended.”

“Lost” premiered September 22, 2004 and soon became the most talked-about new show of the season, with a never-before-seen storyline that spawned water-cooler talk and blogs galore. In its premiere season “Lost” was the No. 1 scripted series on Wednesday night with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. On average “Lost” delivered the highest Adult 18-49 rating for any 8:00 p.m. drama on any network in seven years.

For the second season in a row, “Lost” stood as the No. 1 scripted TV program on Wednesday night during the season in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. It also ranked No.1 in its hour among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tied w/Fox), regularly competing with Fox’s “American Idol” results show during its first half-hour. Despite the “Idol” competition, “Lost” retained nearly all of its overall viewers from the same point the previous season, and actually grew 11% with Adults 18-49. The sophomore ABC drama was the No.1 scripted program on the evening among Adults 18-49 in all 22 of its original telecasts, and qualified as ABC’s most-watched series in the time period in nine years.

“Lost” has ranked No. 1 in its time period with Adults 18-49 for the third season in a row, and is the No. 1 10:00 p.m. series on any network with Adults 18-49. It is the most recorded show on TV, gaining 18% more Total Viewers through “time-shifted” (TiVo/DVR) viewing. On average in its 10 o’clock time period, Nielsen reports 2.1 million additional viewers watch the show after its live broadcast. On top of Nielsen’s reported numbers, millions more viewers watch “Lost” episodes through “place-shifted” viewing via streaming replays on ABC.com, iPod downloads and DVDs.

“Lost” has garnered numerous awards, including six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, a Producers Guild Award, an NAACP Image Award, a Prism Award and two ALMA Awards, just to name a few.